Muhammad Jan V. Secretary Health Department Government of Balochistan and 2 Others,
PLC (C.S) 2013 370 · Balochistan High Court
This case involved eleven people who applied for and were recommended for various government jobs at Helper Eye Hospital, Quetta, ranging from junior to senior grade posts. The Provincial Recruitment Committee had reviewed all required procedures and formally recommended them for appointment. The Health Department's competent authority approved these appointments, and appointment letters were subsequently issued. The petitioners accepted the jobs and submitted their joining reports.
Just five days after granting approval, however, the same authority abruptly withdrew it, ordering that the posts be re-advertised instead. The government's justification was that unsuccessful candidates had complained that the test and interview process had been influenced improperly. The affected employees challenged this reversal in the Balochistan High Court.
The court ruled in favor of the petitioners. It found no actual evidence of bias, fraud, or favoritism in the original recruitment process, and noted the committee had recommended the candidates unanimously on merit. Since the approval had already been acted upon through issued appointment letters and accepted joining reports, the petitioners had gained a vested right that could not simply be taken away without a fair hearing. The court explained that under the legal principle of "locus poenitentiae," an authority can change its mind only before a decision takes effect, not after. The withdrawal order was declared void, though the court noted petitioners couldn't claim back pay for the period the invalid order was in force. The case reinforces that government authorities cannot arbitrarily reverse employment decisions once implemented, protecting citizens from unfair, unex
یہ کیس گیارہ افراد سے متعلق تھا جنہوں نے ہیلپر آئی ہسپتال، کوئٹہ میں مختلف سرکاری ملازمتوں کے لیے درخواستیں دی تھیں، جن میں جونیئر سے سینیئر گریڈ تک کی آسامیاں شامل تھیں، اور انہیں ان آسامیوں کے لیے تجویز کیا گیا تھا۔ صوبائی بھرتی کمیٹی نے تمام مطلوبہ طریقہ کار کا جائزہ لینے کے بعد باضابطہ طور پر ان کی تقرری کی سفارش کی تھی۔ محکمہ صحت کی مختار اتھارٹی نے ان تقرریوں کی منظوری دی، اور اس کے بعد تقرری نامے جاری کیے گئے۔ درخواست گزاروں نے ملازمتیں قبول کرتے ہوئے اپنی جوائننگ رپورٹس جمع کروا دیں۔
تاہم منظوری دینے کے محض پانچ دن بعد، اسی اتھارٹی نے یکایک اپنی منظوری واپس لے لی اور آسامیوں کو دوبارہ اشتہار دینے کا حکم دیا۔ حکومت کی جانب سے اس کی توجیہ یہ پیش کی گئی کہ ناکام امیدواروں نے شکایت کی تھی کہ ٹیسٹ اور انٹرویو کے عمل میں غیر مناسب طریقے سے اثر و رسو